Last July, a group of island volunteers, with permission from the city, converted the 3 abandoned tennis courts to pickleball to offer an outdoor option during the pandemic. They weeded, painted lines, filled in cracks, cleared leaves, and made the space playable. Since then, players of all ages and fitness levels have made use of the courts on a daily basis. Everyone learned that outdoor pickleball was possible during even the colder winter months, with a few more layers and a hat. The Seattle Metro Pickleball Association generously gifted a commercial-grade squeegee to easily dry the courts after a rain.
Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the country, and Mercer Island is no exception. The courts typically attract about 20 players each weekday morning, with more in the evenings, and even more on the weekends. The game is more egalitarian and social than tennis; and much easier to learn and enjoy. With such a beautiful space in the park, the three old tennis courts can easily be converted to 8 or even 10 permanent pickleball courts. This would serve many more in the community, and finally offer a proper pickleball venue on the island. (For reference, there are 14 other public tennis courts on the island, which are rarely fully in use.)
Offering pickleball at Luther Burbank fits well with Friends’ mission to keep the park free of new uses as it will utilize the existing footprint; and at the same time increases usage and enjoyment of the park to a wider and more diverse audience.
As the PROS Plan nears completion and a new parks survey comes out in August, we encourage everyone to take the survey and vote for permanent pickleball at the park. The surface needs to be redone anyway; it was in the last PROS plan for 2024. Let’s prioritize this project and enhance Luther Burbank with the addition of permanent pickleball.
Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the country, and Mercer Island is no exception. The courts typically attract about 20 players each weekday morning, with more in the evenings, and even more on the weekends. The game is more egalitarian and social than tennis; and much easier to learn and enjoy. With such a beautiful space in the park, the three old tennis courts can easily be converted to 8 or even 10 permanent pickleball courts. This would serve many more in the community, and finally offer a proper pickleball venue on the island. (For reference, there are 14 other public tennis courts on the island, which are rarely fully in use.)
Offering pickleball at Luther Burbank fits well with Friends’ mission to keep the park free of new uses as it will utilize the existing footprint; and at the same time increases usage and enjoyment of the park to a wider and more diverse audience.
As the PROS Plan nears completion and a new parks survey comes out in August, we encourage everyone to take the survey and vote for permanent pickleball at the park. The surface needs to be redone anyway; it was in the last PROS plan for 2024. Let’s prioritize this project and enhance Luther Burbank with the addition of permanent pickleball.